The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-30
CRIPPLED BY THE NEW LAW
President Adams Says Union Pacifc's
Through Business Is About Ruined,
And Requests a Suspension of the Long and
Short-Haul Clause-WeStern Lines lssu-
ing Passes to Shippers of Live Stock.

JeveQ from the operation o. the IOurtu seCllOu
Of tho interstate law, as has already been done
in the case of the other transcontinental lines.
The petition sets forth that its through trans
portation is conducted under conditions dissim
liar from those under which its local business is
being done, the former being subject to compe-
ttion with the Canadian Pacific railroad, Pacific :
Mail Steamship line, tramp steamers and clip
per ships, all of which are beyond
the control of the commission in
making rates The/ petition goes on
to say that, with it's through tariff based on the
operation of the ong-and short haul clause. the
company would lose all nearly all OF its
through business, which would go to the COM
petitors mentioned: that this result is inevitable
under the law, as a reasonable. just, intermedi
ate rate forces a substantially prohibitory
through rate. A tariff based on this suppostion
has been in effect since the law became opera
tive, with the result that the through business
of the road has been reduced by at least 80 per
cent leaving in fact very little of it to be done
On the other hand, it is asserted, if the through
rate were made on such basis as is required to
secure substantial part of the bust
ness. and the local rates regulated on
the same basis, as required by
the fourth section the whole earnings of the
road would not pay its fixed charges. Believing
that the conditions such as to justify it in
making discriminating tariffs as between short
and long hauls, yet the penalties of the law are
SO severe that the petitioner fears to act on his
own judgment, and asks the official sanction
of the commission thereto by suspension of
the fourth section of tn law The petition con-
tinues: "Your petitioner further shows that
the circumstances and conditions above set
forth are applicable not only to the through
transcontinental business between points on the
Atlantic coast and points on the Pacific coast,
but also to business with points in the in
terror and on the Mississippi and Missouri
rivers rates of freight to and from
which are governed and controlled by water
competition in the same manner in which water
competition affects the rates for traffic between
ports on the Atlantic seaboard and ports on the
Pacific coast-that is to say: Between Omaha,
Council Bluffs, ST. Joseph Atchison, Kansas
City and Leavenworth, on the Missouri, and in
termediate points. and points easterly, north
westerly and southeasterly thereof on the one
hand, and points and places on Puget sound
and other places in Washington Territory, Vic
toria, in British Columbia, Portland, Astoria,
and other points; and Sacramento, Stockton,
Marysvlle, San Jose Oakland, Los Angeles,
San Diego. and other California points on the
other hand. All the points hereinbefore desg
mated are subject to water competition via the
Pacific and Atlantic oceans. the Sacramento,
San Joaquin. Columbia. Missouri and Mississippi
rivers and the great lakes, and are subject to
competition by water and railway carriers not
restrained by the interstate commerce law.
They are also subject to competition with the
Canadian Pacific line, which, even if deemed to
be affected in anywise by the law has no con-
siderable intermediate traffic to be affected by
competitive rates to the Pacific coast, and hence
- nnx
fact, the Canadian Pacific has taken canned
goods from San Francisco, destined to St. Louis
and to points as Car West as Dodge City Kan.
The like circumstances and conditions also
applicable in respect of foreign business, that is
TO say, between all points in Australia, New
Zealand British India, Japan and the islands Of
the Pacific, and all points in the United States
and Canada east of the 9th meridian
in Great Britain and continental Europe on the
one hand. and San Francisco, Sacramento.
Stockton, San Jose. Oakland, Los Angeles and
San Diego, CAL. and the Washington Territory,
Oregon and British Columbia points, herein
before mentioned, the other. The lower
charge for longer than for shorter distances is
necessary in respect to such foreign business to
enable the United States carriers to compete
with foreign carriers not controlled by the law,
and likewise necessary to enable United States
producers, manufacturers and merchants to
compete with foreign markets. The prayer is
therefore made for at least temporary
pension OF the lOurtn section IN It's application
to the Union Pacific and its associates relative
to the points and territory named, the same
having already been granted to the Northern
and Southern Pacific and the Atchison, Topeka
& Santa Fe roads,
Action of Trunk-Line Presidents.
NEW YORK, April 29-At meeting of rail.
road presidents, held in this city to-day, the
New York Central, the Pennsylvania the Erie,
the Lackawanna. the Baltimore & Ohio ard the
West Shore roads were represented. The OBJ
lection made by the Boston lines against the
advance. under the new law. to 80 cents on
grain for export. was considered. and it was
decided to reduce the rate to 25 cents, as form
erly. The Reading company was admitted to
the association. The question OF differentias
was considered, but no action was taken thereon.
As the matter now stands, differentials are
allowed.
ton OF second-class excursion tickets from the
Pacific coast to the Atlantic seaboard was con-
sidered, and it was decided to discontinue them.
The subject was brought up by the request OF
the transcontinental lines. West-bound fares
and their equalization were also considered.
The Baltimore & Ohio has not yet come into
the association far it's traffic arrangement is
with the Ontario g. Western is concerned, and
the through rates over the two roads have not
yet been brought under the new law. 1t is ex
pected that this question will be settled har
mouiously at a meeting to be held next Wednes
day. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe. the
Hannibal e. st. Joe. and the Chicago Burling
ton & Quincy have Joined the joint association
committee.
1t was decided to continue the reduced rates
in regard to disabled volunteer soldiers travel
ing to the volunteer soldiers homes. Delegates
going to important conventions will be allowed
the usual concessions II was decided to adhere
rigdy to the new rule not to allow commissions
and the opinion was generally expressed tina
1t was best for the interests of all concerned
that the system had been abolished.
Tho southwestern Statistical Bureau.
CHICAGO, April 29.-At the meeting of tn,
general managers of the Southwestern railway
to-day r. r. Cable was chosen chairman of III,
executive committee of the Southwestern
Statistical Bureau, and j. W. Midgely. commits
sioner Of the old pool. was made chairman of tn,
new organization. The general freight agents
were constituted q rate committee, with powe,
to make uniform rates on competitive business
There are penalties provided, the manager
pedeing their faith to carry out the agreement
Any line has the privilege of Withdrawing upo,
giving ninety DAYS notice. A separate agree
ment includes all lumber traffic, but is subiec
to the same rules and conditions. Ali of tn
lines running from Chicago and ST. Louis t
Kansas City. and the Kansas roads. are partie
to the agreement, with the exception of tn
San Francisco and the Kansas City, Fort Scot
Il Memphis.